Automatic signal device



y 1927' J. R. TOLLIFSON AUTOMATIC SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Oct. 19. 1925,

ATTORN EY Patented. May -24, 1927.

UNITED STATESMPATENT OFFICE.

JAMES R. TOLLIFSQN, OF CAMDEN, ARKANSAS.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL DEVICE.

Application filed October 19, 1925. Serial No. 63,460.

equipped wit-h the mechanism is slowing up and consequently preparing tostop, the invention being of great advantage in that it reduceslikelihood of rear end collisions.

An important and more specific object is the provision of a signaldevice embodying a circuit closer which is governor actuated, thecircuit closer being adapted for interposition between the usualspeedometer andthe driving cable or chain therefor, it beingconsequently possible to install the in vention without making anymaterial changes in already existing parts. I

Still another object is .to provide a device of this character embodyinga plurality of contacts connected respectively with signal lights andengageable b a movably mounted brush the position of which is controlledby a governor device driven by the speedometer drive mechanism.

An additional object is to provide an apparatus of this character whichwill be comparatively simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy toinstall, automatic in action,

eiticient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists in the details of construction, and the arrangement andcombination of parts-to be hereinafter more fully described'and claimed,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which 7 Figure 1 is anelevation of a'portion of the instrument board of a vehicle showing theinvention applied thereto in somewhat diagrammatic form, the lamp boxand circuit closer structure being shown in section,

a and is customary. It is well known that the speedometer is actuated bymeans of a drive element D connected with a similar drive element E atthe end of a flexible chain or cable enclosed within a metallic conduitF.

In carrying out the invention, I provide an attachment interposedbetween the drive chain and conduit and the speedometer, this attachmentcomprising a suitable shell 01*65 casing 10 of insulating materialmounted in any desired manner upon the instrument board, preferably tothe rear thereof. The top and bottom of'this shell or casing, designatedrespectively by the numerals 11 and 12 are preferably removable so thataccess may be had to the interior in case of any necessity for re airs.At the top of the casing is a bearinigistructure and coupling device 13threadedly engaged with the usual terminal member of the speedometer,and at the center of the bottom 12 of the shell or casing in aconnection 14 upon which is engaged theusual union G carried by theflexible conduit or housing F.

Journally mounted at the center of the shell or casing 10 is a shaft 15provided at its upper end with a member 16 operatively engaged with theelement D of the speedometer, the member 16 beingpreferably of conicalformation and engaging against bearing balls 17 located within asuitable race. At the lower portion of the shaft 15 is an en-' largement18 enga ing bearing balls 19 mounted in a suita le race. By virtue ofthese two constructions at the ends of the shaft it is obvious that theshaft willbe adequately journaled for rotary movement with very limitedfriction.

20 including a collar 21 splined upon the shaft 15 for longitudinalmovement thereon while rotating therewith, this collar carrying an arm22 terminating in a contact brush 23.- Pivotally connected with ears on.the collar 21 are links 24 which are in turn pivotally connected witharms-25 carrying fly weights 26 and pivotally connected with the member16. The contact brush 23 of course engages against the inner peripheryof the shell or casin 10, and embedded flush within the wall 0 thisshell are metallic contact rings 27 and 28, the former of which. will beengaged by the brush 23 when'the machine is standing idle and the latterof, which will be engaged by the'brush when the machine is travelling ata very low speed. Obviously, centrifugal force will act to throw the flyweight 26 o'utwardly and move the collar 21 forming part ofthe brushassembly 20 upwardly when the shaft 15 is rotated.

In conjunction with the above described parts, I make use of a signaldevice comprising a lamp box 29 divided by partitions 30 into aplurality of compartments 31, 32 and 33, the first mentioned of whichconstitutes an ordinary tail light and encloses an incandescent bulb 34mounted within a suitable socket 35 with which is connected a currentsupply wire 36 leading to the switch device C on the instrument board.Within the compartments 32 and are incandescent bulbs 37 and 38respectively mounted within sockets 39 and 40 suitably mounted throughthe back of the casing and having connected therewith conductors 41 and42 which connect with binding posts 43 and 44 on the shell 10 connectedwith the respective rings 28 and 27. The nu- Ineral 45 designates asuitable source of current which may be the storage battery of the car,which has one terminal grounded at 46 and its other terminal connectedby a conductor 47 with the starting switch H and control switch C. Themetallic bottom 12 of the member 10 .is grounded to the frame of thecar, the ground being indicated diagrammatically at 48. The sockets 39and 40 are connected in the car system by a conductor 49.

In the operation of the device, it will be seen that the energization ofthe bulb 34 iscontrolled by the switch 0. and forms no part of thepresent invention, except that I have described and illustrated it inview of the fact that it may occupy or be enclosed within a compartmentof the signal box.

' Supposing that the vehicle is traveling at a normal rate of speed, itis quite apparent that centrifugal force will act to throw the flyweight 26 outwardly'so that the collar" 21 connected therewith by meansof the links will be in a sufficiently elevated position that thecontact brush 23 will engage the inner wall of the shell or casing 10 ata point above the contact ring 28. When this 15 the case there is noenergization ot the bulbs 37 or 38. If, however, the operator slows downpreparatory to stopping, it is clear that the centrifugal force actingon the fly weight 26 will be reduced and the collar member 21 will bemoved downwardlyuntil the contact brush 23 engages against the contactring 28. When this occurs. currentis supplied to the lamp 37 and thecompartment 32 will be illuminated. It is preferable that thecompartments 32 and 33, and in fact the compartment 31 also be coveredby a pane or parent or translucent material indicated at be thoroughlyapprised of the anes of transvehicle to a stop it is apparent thatthecentrifugal force acting upon the fly weight has been reduced to theminimum or in tact eliminated, whereupon the collar 21 and brushassembly 20 will be moved downwardly to such .an extent that the contactbrush 23 will be in engagement with the metallic contact ring 27 so thatcurrent will be supplied to'the incandescent lamp 38, resulting inenergization of the latter and display of the legend stop at thecompartment 33. From the above it is quite evident that the drivers offollowin cars will rivers intention and may govern or drive theirvehicles accordingly, to avoid accident and congestion. It is believedthat the construetion, operation and advantages will be readily a parentto one skilled in the art, without urther explanation.

WVhile I have .shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it

should be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes inthe form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart. fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.-

wall of the casing and flush with the inner surface thereof, bindingposts extending radially from said.rings and through the shell, bindingnuts upon said last named members, a collar fixed upon said shaft,

ears carried by said collar, arms pivoted upon said ears and terminatingin fly balls,

a collar slidably and non-rotatably mounted u on the shaft and providedwith ears, arms pivotally connected with said second named ears and with.said first named arms, and an arm member carried by the second namedcollar and terminating in a contact brush adapted to engage said contactrings.

In testimony whereof I afiix my-signature.

JAMES R. ITOLLIFSON.

